As they followed the woman inland from the docks, the path curved gently up a slight incline, revealing more of the vast settlement that sprawled out before them.
What first appeared to be a dockside extension unfolded into an immense city laced with waterways and bridges, each one more intricately designed than the last. Broad white-stone streets shimmered with clean polish, carved with smooth arcs and flowing lines that mimicked the rhythm of tides. The buildings were crafted from a mixture of ocean-forged marble and coral-stone, their exteriors bearing swirling patterns like water currents frozen in place.
Towers rose with spiral walkways that wrapped upward, some connected to neighboring structures. Roofs were steep and scalloped, painted in hues of sea-glass green, silver and deep navy blue. Channels of clear water flowed alongside and beneath the walkways, occasionally parting to reveal deep, slow-moving pools where aquatic beasts swam lazily beneath the surface, some small and shimmering like fish, others long and serpentine, with fins like silk and eyes that followed the group silently.
The streets were wider than any city they'd seen in Spheraphase. Not for the sake of traffic of course, but for elegance.
"I'm Aravelle," the woman finally said as she walked ahead of them with hands in her pockets, her long seafoam hair bobbing slightly with every step. "I'm the Head Waypath Guide of Nyramith Island."
They looked among themselves briefly. It was Adelasta who asked, "Waypath Guide?"
Aravelle nodded without turning around.
"Basically? I'm your handler while you're here. A divine babysitter with too much paperwork and not enough patience. But technically, Waypath Guides are assigned to monitor and evaluate Divines who come to train in the Islands. We assess your progress, guide your paths, give you access to facilities and sometimes stop you from blowing something up."
"Do all the Islands have one?" Xander asked as Farrynelle clung softly to his side.
"Each Island has a Waypath Guide," Aravelle confirmed, "but not all of them are Heads. I report directly to the Hydrangea of Nyramith, which you probably already know by now who a Hydrangea is. Like Annierouge Plenituse."
That name earned a few tired looks.
"She certainly left an impression," Eldrigan muttered dryly.
"She always does," Aravelle grinned without looking back. "She's got that effect. To clarify, each Island of Inexpelcae is governed by one of the Seven Hydrangea. They're not political leaders or monarchs. They are… divine anchors. Each of them is in the Sixth Enlightenment of the Divine Rank, which makes them some of the most powerful beings on the planet. Even your kind aren't exactly common at that stage."
"I thought they were all equally powerful," Adelasta said, eyes narrowing slightly. "But she… stood out."
"She is the strongest," Aravelle admitted, finally turning her head slightly so they could see her profile as they walked through a wide open plaza where a fountain was stationed.
"Annierouge Plenituse is the most powerful of the Hydrangea. She's the First. Not just by title but by legacy. She was the one who developed the testing system for entry into Inexpelcae. She is also the one who shaped and built the pillar network you just survived."
They all quietly absorbed that.
"I can see why she's the strongest," Elyonari muttered under her breath, eyes still a little hard from the encounter. "Her prescence was like trying to stare into the sun underwater. You can't fight that. It'd burn you before you even blinked."
"Exactly," Aravelle said, giving her a quick approving glance. "And trust me, you do not want to be on her bad side. But... she does respect strength. She might mock you, but she'll never underestimate you. Especially not after what he did."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Vastarael. He didn't respond.
They moved through a corridor bridge flanked by glowing stone pillars that fed into a domed structure overlooking the sea. Nyramith clearly was a place where nature was governed by rules the Hydroborn had long since mastered.
-------
The group followed close behind her, some still glancing at the surrounding architecture. They were high enough that the entire southeastern coast of Nyramith Island stretched far below them, dotted with canals, plazas and bridges that sparkled under the soft twilight sky. Aravelle said, her hands still buried casually in her pockets as she veered toward a quiet path lined with tall trees.
"This way. Before you ask, you won't be staying in the common housing units. Nyramith is the most populated island in all of Inexpelcae. There are over seventy thousand registered Divines training here right now. And that's not counting the faculty, the older Enlightenment instructors or the native Hydroborn."
"Seventy thousand?" Xander muttered under his breath.
Aravelle glanced back and smirked.
"Relax. You won't be dealing with any of them."
She paused at a vine-covered archway that led to a secluded path, secluded enough that they couldn't even hear the hum of distant Divine activity anymore.
"The Aquatic Goddesses gave you all special access. And I do mean special. You've been granted residence at one of the Cliffside Sanctums,.normally reserved for high-tier Sixth Enlightenment elites."
That caught even Narisva off guard. "So... we're skipping the standard housing tier list?"
"Exactly. You'll be treated like legacy candidates from the start. Normally, Divines have to earn these locations over the course of their training. You got it in under a week. And if you continue progressing into the higher Enlightenment stages, you'll get the same privileges on the other Islands too."
When they reached the front gates of the mansion, it suddenly hit everyone. The layout, the silhouette of the structure, the way the balconies hung over the cliffs, the view of the endless ocean,.it was all familiar. Too familiar.
"Hold on," Farrynelle said first, her tone laced with disbelief, "is this...?"
"Are we cursed to always end up in cliffside mansions?" Eldrigan deadpanned.
"No way," Adelasta muttered, crossing her arms. "This is way too close to the one we stayed in back in Asmaphaeri."
"Feels like déjà vu," Natalis added, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Just without the annoying chaos of the city."
Vastarael walked forward, his hand brushing one of the smooth coral columns that supported the structure. Unlike the tech-integrated elegance of Asmaphaeri City's architecture, this mansion was purely divine-crafted. No wires, no lights, no interfaces. Polished floors lined the entrances, crystalline windows opened to grand views of the ocean and inside they could already glimpse plush couches and a large open space with enough room for training, meetings, or even sparring.
"There's no technology," Elyonari noted. "Not a single one."
"Because this is Inexpelcae," Aravelle replied, now standing beside the main doorway with one hand on the handle. "The rules of the world apply differently here. Divine sustenance flows naturally into places like this. You won't need heating, or cooking, or artificial comfort. Everything reacts to your energy and the mansion will shift over time to suit your needs."
"Wait, it adapts?" Peroncerea asked, stepping closer, her curiosity piqued.
"Every mansion on the Cliffsides is a living construct. It's tied to the mystic power beneath the island. Just wait. You'll see."
Without fanfare, she opened the door and a rush of warmth and calm hit them immediately. The air inside was sweet, tinged with the scent of flowers and ocean salt. The ceiling was high and sloped with arching beams made of shimmering stone. Light filtered in from unseen sources. Eldrigan stepped in and gave a low whistle.
"Okay. This is... way nicer than I expected."
"You'll each have your own chambers. There's also a communal lounge, a meeting chamber, and a divine synchronization hall below. If you choose to train here, the mansion itself will adjust to match your pace. If not, your training will begin in three days."
Vastarael turned back toward her as the others scattered across the mansion, exploring and marveling.
"Why are you treating us this well?"
"Because like it or not, Vastarael Richinaria... you've made an impression. And trust me, word travels fast in Inexpelcae."
He didn't reply. He gave a faint nod. As Aravelle prepared to leave them for the afternoon, she looked back once more with a knowing smirk.
"Try not to destroy this one. These mansions take centuries to regrow."
Then she walked away, leaving the Sentina Erideae to settle into a home that felt eerily familiar.
"Alright then. Everyone, find your rooms. We have three days to relax so..."